Fluid separator



June 1949- J. LOUMl ET ET LAVIGNE FLUID SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 25, 1945 JEAN [DUN/ET E7 L/lV/GNL' June 1949- J. LOUMIET ETLAVIGNE 2,473,602

FLUID SEPARATOR Filed April 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JfA/V LOl/M/ET E7' L4V/6 VE m, @9422, wa W Patented June 21, 1949 'l' OFFIC FLUIDSEPARATOR Jean Loumiet et Lavigne, Playa de la Teja, Itabo, CubaApplication April 25, 1945, Serial No. 590,170

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the fluid separators and moreparticularly to a centrifugal type such as disclosed in my United StatesPatent No. 2,015,076, patented September 24, 1935, wherein, for theseparation of dense fluids from less dense fluids, such as oil particlesfrom steam, the mixed fluid is directed through a pipe of non-circularcross-section and formed into a spiral coil. The pipe is pear-shaped incross-section and its narrow portion extends outwardly and downwardly soas to collect the dense fluid particles. The dense fluid or oilparticles are separated from the steam by centrifugal action and aredashed against the exterior wall surface and are finally deposited inthe narrow portion of the pipe. Discharge openings from the channel arelocated at intervals along the length of the pipe through which the oilis extracted Several difficulties have been encountered in use of theseseparators. One such difliculty has been that drops of the dense fluidor oil particles rebounded from the wall surface of the pipe, againstwhich they were dashed, into the interior region of the pipe, and beingbroken were easily swept along with the steam, and thus were not finallyseparated from the less dense fluid. Also dirliculties arose in theconstruction of the separator, as for example, in the bending of thepipe into the spiral.

It is thus among the objects of the present invention to provide a fluidseparator which may be more simply constructed, more efiicient inoperation, and wherein the rebounding of the dense particles isinhibited.

According to the invention the inner wall surface of the casing iscovered with a shock absorbing or force dissipating material so that thedense fluid particles will not so readily rebound upon being dashedagainst the separator casing inner wall. For this shock absorbingmaterial, a felt of wool or artificial fleece, or a wire cloth of thinwire is used. The dense fluid particles as they are dashed against thesoft material are broken and lose their velocity. The rebound of theparticles is accordingly inhibited.

The wire cloth may be made of wires having a triangular cross-sectionand arranged so that their vertices point toward the fluid particlesaimed at the wall surface. By such construction, easy entrance of theparticles to the wall surface is afforded but on the rear of the wiresthere is a large area thereby to prevent the rebound of the broken fluidparticles. Parallel plates arranged in a window blind-like manner on thecasing wall surface may be used.

Several forms of construction are shown but generally each form includesa cylindrically shaped separator casing having an inner wall surface, aninner cylinder of smaller dimension located within the casing and spacedfrom the wall surface thereof, and a spiral sheet extending between thetwo cylinders and from one end of the casing to the other end thereof.The inher cylinder and the spiral sheet are so fashioned and arranged asto provide a spiral path through the separator which is of varyingcross-section. The mixed fluid enters an inlet at one end of the casingand upon passing through the separator is given alternate increase anddecrease in the velocity by virtue of the varying cross-section. As thefluid leaves the point of minimum crosssection in the spiral passage,the fluid is given an increased velocity and just beyond this point thedense fluid particles are thrown outwardly by centrifugal action anddashed against the inner wall surface of the separator casing. At thepoint in the casing where the dense particles collide with the wallthere is provided an opening through which the collected oil particlesare extracted. Also located in this area on the inner wall surface isone of the above-mentioned soft materials or a perforated plate so as toinhibit the rebounding of the oil particles. An outlet is located at theopposite end of the separator casing for the exit of the less densefluid or carrier.

For better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a horizontalseparator with portions of the outer casing removed to show in full theinner structure thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse cross-section taken at station 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another view in transverse section of the separator shown inFig. 1 taken at station 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in perspective, of the separatorshown in Fig. 1 to show more clearly its detail of construction andincluding one form of perforated means for preventing rebounding of thedense fluid particles; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively views similar to Fig. 4: but showingrespectively other means for preventing rebounding of the fluidparticles.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, E is the outer cylinder of casing, theinner wall of which serves as the outer or exterior surface of theseparator. The ends of the cylinder E are closed as indiwandareextracted at a point about 60 degrees becated at E and E". Within thecasing E, is eccentrically disposed an inner cylinder D which providesthe inner surface of the separator. In the annular space between the twocylinders is a spiral coil S extending from one end of the separator tothe other end thereof. On the outer casing E, adjacent the end E is aninlet A through which .themixed fluids. enter the annular space, and atthe opposite end of the casing E, adjacent the end E", is an outlet pipeB through which the less dense fluid carrier or steam leaves the casing.

The cylinder D is eccentrically arranged within the casing E in order toprovide for alternate expansion and contraction of the fluids as theypass in spiral fashion through the annular space. At its entrance A thefluid will expand and its velocity diminish up to the section CY, Fig.2. From this point, the fluid starts to contract and its velocity willbe increased until the section CX is. reached. Atthe section CX thevelocity of the fluid is the greatest. This cycle of expansion .andcontraction continues throughout the length of the annular space. Byvirtue of this expansion and contraction, the dense fluid or oilparticles .harebetterseparated from the less dense fluid or steam. Afterhaving reached the maximum .velocity, in the reduced section CX, theless dense .ufluidcontaining the oil or dense particles begins again to.expand and to. diminish its velocity .whereas the oil particles willhave a tendency to ..,maintain .theipvelocity. The oil particles areaccordingly flung against the outer cylinder E,

, -.yond thesection-CX. Such extraction is made through-spacedopenings13", Fig. l, in the botvatom of .the casing E. Extraction apparatus iscated beneath these openings E'.

This extrac- .tion-apparatus comprises a funnel G which re- ;ceives thedense fluids or oil particles separated by the action of centrifugalforce from the less .;;dense fluids and conveys them to a horizontallyextendingpipe H from which they are finally extracted. Those particleswhich are not separated at the firstrsection CXwill be separated at thesecond or third.- stations CX after having made ianother turn or so intheannular space.

. The densefluid or oil particles not only are ==xseparated by.centrifugal action, but also partially by. virtue of the tendency of theparticles to adhere to the casing wall upon the fluid constaining theoil particles coming in contact therewith. Oil particles that adhere tothe inner cyl- 4 trap that directs the oil particles to the extractionopenings and which would otherwise have crossed the opening withouthaving fallen into it. At the same time the wire cloth K operates toavoid rebounding of the particles that fall directly onto the same.

In Fig. 5, there is shown a combined arrangement adjacentthe openings E'comprising felt material M secured to the inner wall of the casing E andover which is disposed, in spaced relation therefrom, a wire cloth N.The felt material M may extend on the wall to some distance beyond thewire cloth N.

In Fig. 6, the rebounding of the oil particles is prevented by a seriesof parallel plates P extending in the direction such that the oilparticles will be aimed at the spaces between them. These plates arearranged so that they resemble a window blind.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fluid separator, a cylindrically shaped separator casing closedat its ends and having an inner cylindrical wall surface, an innerstructure within the separator casing and cooperating with the innerwall surface thereof to provide a spiral fluid path of varyingcross-section, an inlet for the mixed fluid at one end of the casing andan outlet at the other end of the casing for discharging the less densefluids, and an outlet for extracting from the casing the dense fluidparticles separated from the less dense fluid, said outlet beingprovided through the separator external casing at a point in the fluidpath about beyond the point of minimum cross-section therein.

2. Ina fluid separator, aseparator casing having an inner wall surface,an inner structure within the outer cylinder, said inner structureincluding inner member extending from one end of the casing to the otherendthereof and a spiral sheet extending between the inner member and thewall surface of the casing, an. inlet at one end of the casing for themixed fluids and an outlet at the other end for discharging the lessdense or carrier fluid, said inner member and the spiral member being soshaped and so arranged as to provide a spiral path throughout the lengthof the casing of varying cross-section, and an outlet for extractingfrom the casing the dense .u inder D pass into the same through a slot Di formed by.the= spaced overlapped ends of the cylinderm-The oilentering this slot collects in w the bottom ofthe cylinder D and ispassed to fluid particles separated from the less dense fluid, saidoutlet being provided through the separator external casing at a pointin the fluid funnel G by means of drain pipe F.

r Inorder to prevent rebounding of the oil par- :wticles org-dropsofoil, perforated means or wire cloth J is provided over the extractionopenings 1 E. ',The wall surface of the cylinder E may also becoveredwith a felt of mineral and vegetable fleece in .order to. preventrebounding of the oil particles-.-dashed against'the cylinder wall at...other; locations thereover. The individual wires are preferably oftriangular cross-section arr: ranged so that-one of. their vertices.point toward thefluid particles aimed at the wall surface to aifordeasyentrance to the,.p articles but poor .az Referring now to Fig. 4 thereis shown an aris spaced from the cylinder wall to constitute a pathabout 60 beyond. the point of minimum cross-section therein.

3. In a horizontal fluid separator, anouter cylindrically-shaped casinghaving an inner wall surface, an inner cylinder eccentrically positionedwithin the outer casing. a spiral sheetv extending throughout the lengthof the casing and between the inner wall surface thereof and the innercylinder, to provide a spiral path for the mixedfluld of the innercylinder and of the separator casing.

4. In a horizontal fluid separator for separating entrained liquidparticles from a gas or vapor current, a cylindrically-shaped casinghaving an inner wall surface, an inner cylinder eccentrically positionedwithin the outer casing, a spiral sheet extending throughout the lengthof the casing and between the inner wall surface thereof and the innercylinder thereby to provide a spiral path of varying cross-section, aninlet and an outlet at the respective ends of the casing, said casinghaving longitudinally spaced discharge openings in the bottom thereofwith partitions there-between and located across lines tangential to thepath of travel at the minimum cross-section where the dense particlesare dashed againstthe casing inner wall surface by centrifugal action,perforated shock absorbing means extending over the area of the innerwall surface adjacent the discharge openings therein to preventrebounding 0f the dense particles in that area, funnel means connectedto the casing bottom beneath the discharge opening to collect the denseparticles from the casing, said inner cylinder having spaced overlappedlongitudinal edges near the same point of minimum crosssection therebyproviding a slot to collect dense particles within the inner cylinder, adrain pipe extending from within the inner cylinder through theperforate means, and a partition between discharge openings and into thefunnel means.

JEAN LOUMIET ET LAVIGNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

